The life-affirming and unforgettable new novel from the author of Lost for Words

'I read this book in one sitting, it made me smile and made me wipe a tear from my eye too' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'This book had me sitting up into the small hours. Such a lovely read, very relatable and touching' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'I LOVED this book . . . A joy to read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'One of the best books I've read in quite some time' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Loveday Cardew's beloved Lost for Words bookshop, along with the rest of York, has fallen quiet. At the very time when people most need books to widen their horizons, or escape from their fears, or enhance their lives, the doors are closed. Then the first letter comes.

Rosemary and George have been married for fifty years. Now their time is running out. They have decided to set out on their last journey together, without ever leaving the bench at the bottom of their garden in Whitby. All they need is someone who shares their love of books.

Suddenly it's clear to Loveday that she and her team can do something useful in a crisis. They can recommend books to help with the situations their customers find themselves in: fear, boredom, loneliness, the desire for laughter and escape.

And so it begins.

'A delightful and original concept about how a second hand bookshop can heal a community' Katie Fforde

'The perfect book to curl up with . . . It's heartwarming, emotional and full of kindness. A lovely and life-affirming novel' Sara Nisha Adams

'What a lovely book - so assured and gentle, full of compassion and replete with astute observations of human nature and behaviour' Carys Bray

'A really moving read - with great book recommendations included, too!' My Weekly

'I truly loved this book; it made me laugh out loud and also had me choked up a few times too' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Stephanie's stories are thoughtful and warm, written with much humour, and most importantly care. I'd recommend them to anyone, and especially those recovering from a broken heart' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'It made me laugh, it made me cry and left me with a feeling of community spirit - I will definitely be recommending this to others, it is a fantastic read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'This book is going straight on my list of top ten books' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Her writing is utterly engaging and this book truly moved me. Compassionate, unusual, original and full of wonderful characters' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Beautiful, heartwarming, a true gift of a book' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐